The BT investment makes available broadband speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) – more than double the maximum speeds previously available to the majority of UK homes and businesses.

It means that the technology will be available to more than 1.5 million homes and businesses in Scotland by next summer – equivalent to about 72 per cent of all premises.

The new next generation broadband network is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services.

This investment is in addition to BT’s on-going £2.5 billion UK roll-out of super-fast fibre-based broadband, which is expected to bring even faster speeds to two-thirds of UK premises by the end of 2014.

“Earlier this month we announced plans to make super-fast, fibre-based broadband available to 695,500 homes and businesses by the end of next year. Now we are able to confirm a further major investment in faster broadband speeds over copper lines.

“Nobody is doing more than BT to roll-out faster broadband across Scotland. At a time of economic uncertainty these major improvements will provide a big boost for local businesses and offer many additional educational and entertainment opportunities for local households.

“And we want to go further. We want to work with the public sector to find ways of bringing faster broadband to areas which are geographically and commercially more challenging.”

Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “We very much welcome this latest announcement from BT. Faster broadband is going to play a key role in Scotland’s future success. In an increasingly competitive and technological world it is vital that local businesses and households have access to high-speed sophisticated communications. Just like roads and railways, broadband is a vital part of the essential infrastructure of Scotland.”

David Watt, executive director, Institute of Directors Scotland, said: “This is more good news from BT. Faster, next generation broadband is one of the fundamental building blocks which will play a pivotal part in growing the nation’s economy. It’s great to see the faster broadband footprint spreading across Scotland and in these tough economic times it gives Scottish businesses something to look forward to in the new year.”

A full list of the exchanges being announced today for upgrade is below:

EXCHANGE

REGION

EXCHANGE

REGION

KIRRIEMUIR

ANGUS

BANCHORY

GRAMPIAN

MONIFIETH

ANGUS

CULTER

GRAMPIAN

GIRVAN

AYRSHIRE

PETERHEAD

GRAMPIAN

MAYBOLE

AYRSHIRE

PORTLETHEN

GRAMPIAN

STEWARTON

AYRSHIRE

ALNESS

HIGHLAND

ALLOWAY

AYRSHIRE

DINGWALL

HIGHLAND

HAWICK

BORDERS

GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY

HIGHLAND

SELKIRK

BORDERS

INVERGORDON

HIGHLAND

ALVA

CLACKMANNANSHIRE

FORT WILLIAM

HIGHLAND

STRANRAER

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

OBAN

HIGHLAND

HADDINGTON

EAST LOTHIAN

KIRKWALL

ORKNEY ISLANDS

EAGLESHAM

EAST RENFREWSHIRE

STANLEY

PERTHSHIRE

ANSTRUTHER

FIFE

BRIDGE OF EARN

PERTHSHIRE

LADYBANK

FIFE

LERWICK

SHETLAND ISLES

BURNTISLAND

FIFE

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

STIRLINGSHIRE

KENNOWAY

FIFE

MARYHILL

STRATHCLYDE

BALLINGRY

FIFE

SPRINGBURN

STRATHCLYDE

COWDENBEATH

FIFE

BISHOPBRIGGS

STRATHCLYDE

NEWPORT/WORMIT

FIFE

BUSBY

STRATHCLYDE

KELTY

FIFE

STEPPS

STRATHCLYDE

HUNTLY

GRAMPIAN

ARMADALE

WEST LOTHIAN

KINTORE/TRS

GRAMPIAN

WEST CALDER

WEST LOTHIAN

LOSSIEMOUTH

GRAMPIAN

FAULDHOUSE

WEST LOTHIAN

BUCKSBURN

GRAMPIAN

Note to editors: All forward looking plans are subject to change. However, the expectations reflected in this forward-looking plan are reasonable, but because our rollout involves risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking plans.

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